Universal floor-box.



W. A. BONNELL. UNIVERSAL FLOOR BOX.

APPLICATION FKLED MAY 20. 1913.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

INVENTOR I 4 TTOR/VF Y WITNESSES:

, eat and similar "parts-in the respective fig- UNITED; "STATES: PATENT OFFICE.

' WILLIAM A. BONNELIi, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FOUNTAIN ELEC- TRICAL FLOOR BOX CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF YORK.

UNIVERSAL FLOOR-BOX. I

To all whom it ma concern Be it known tiat I, WILLIAM A. Box:

the following is a full, clear, and exact. de-

scription, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make, construct, and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andto letters of reference marked thereon, form ing a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved universal floor box to receive electric conduits and wires at a. point at which they are brought into compartments of buildings on the vfloor level. This floor box is designed to receive any kind of a commercial receptacle on the market, such as. for instance, electric light fixtures, switches, fuseplugs, sockets, or the like.

The floor box may be embedded in a floor of a building, and it may be adapted for use in other-locations, as for instance, in

the'ceiling or wall of a room.

The object of 'my invention is to provide a universal floor box of this character, having two adjustable boxbody sections and resilient means interposed or clamped between said sections to make the box perfectly water-tight and which may be ad justed readily and accurately to any construction or character of floor or wall, and which is readily accessible to permit renewal and repair-of the socket or fuse plug.

or any other receptacle which may be contained in the floor box.

Other objects will appear from the descriptionhereinaftergiven.

A preferred form of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings,

which form a part of this specification, the numerals ofreference indicating the sev- -""Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a floor box constructed in accordance'with' my invention. i Fig.12 represents a p'lanview' of the same, with the'cover removed. Fig.

.3 represents a plan View of the lower section.v Fig. 4 represents a similar view of the clam ing ring, to which a strap supporting a switch or'fuse' plug may be fastened. Figs;

Specification of Letters-Patent.

Application filed M94720, 1913.

Serial No. 768,728.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

5 and 6 represent plan and side views of the strap designed to support a switch or fuse plug. Fig. 7 representsa side elevation of the same strap showing the different ways in which a switch or fuse plug is carried by said strap. Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary'section of a-modified form of the upper and lower box sections provided with means for firmly securing the sections in position when properly adjusted; and Fig. 9 represents in cross-section, a view of the gasket not compressed. 1

The floor box proper consists of an upper and lower section numbered respectively 1 and These sections are preferably ofcylindrical shape and formed of cast iron, al-

though they may be of any shape and configuration, as for instance, the lower box section may be made polygonal.

3 representsa yielding annular gasket made of rubber, leather, felt, or any analogous material, which gasket is secured to the upper box section by the clamping ring 4. Theclamping rings: is provided with a series of screw-threaded holes 5, for the reception of screws 6, which pass through.-

suitable apertures 7 located in the interiorlyarranged projections 8formed integral with the box body 1. In this manner, the annular gasket is secured to and [carried by the upper box section. In order to properly adjust and secure the upper and lower box sections together and at the same time make the box thoroughly water-tight, it is only necessary to insert the upper section into the lower section, or viceversa', and then tighten up on'thescrews 6 until the upwardly pro- "jGGIZiHE POItlOH OIE the annular gasket 3 is force or brought into intimate contact with the interior wall of the lower section'2 and the exterior wall ofthe upper section 1.'

Increased pressure brought to bear upon the gasket?) by means of the clamping ring 4 will unite and 'adjust'said sections in a position and eflicient' manner. The arrangement and interposition bf =the' gasket'3 between the body 'sectioninsure's a thoroughly water tight'joint, and inorder' to more firmly secure'the sectionsin position when properly adjusted, I may provide the interior of the upper portion of the box section 2 and the exterior of the lower portion of the box section 1 with a series of depressions 9, ar ranged in any convenient or suitable manner, ent1rely,or partly around said sections,

into which, by means of increased pressure from the clampingring, .the gasket will'be forced into engagement with said depressions 9, as clearly indicated in Fig. of the drawings."

The gasket 3 is preferably made annular.

in form with a wide, fiat base designed to be supported. on the clamping ring 4 and a cylindrical outer peripheral surface designed to engage with the upper inner cylindrical surface of the lower box section 2. The inner peripheral surface of the gasket is prefer= ably concaved, as clearly indicated in Fig.

" 9 of the drawings, tosomewhat conform to the lower outer portion of the upper box 'section 1, and for the reason that when the gasket is secured to the upper box section 1 j as previously described, and saidjsection, to-

pressure brought to bear upon the gasket '3, by means of the clamping ring. a and screws 6, will force the gasket material into i gether with its attached gasket and ring, are inserted in the lower box section, further curing the box sections 1 and '2 together, I-

may employ the means illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, which consists in providing the upper section 1 on-the inside 'with the two inwardly projecting lugs 10 and the lower section 2 with corresponding lugs 11, the lower lugs 11 being screw- I threaded to receive screws 12, oneof which passes through an aperture 13 formedln the lug 10 and the head 'of the other screw bearing against the under side of thelug 10, the head being accessible by means of the aperture 14 in said lug 10. By turning the screws 12, the two sections 1 and 2 may be adjusted toward or fromeach other.

15 represents'a cover which may be secured to the upper box section 1 in any wellknown manner, provided with a nozzle 26 having screw-threaded engagement with .said cover. An insulating bushing 16 for the passage of the conductors (not shown) is secured in the upper end of the nozzle; I interpose rubber gaskets 17 and 18 between .the cover 15 and uppersection 1, and be- I on the clamping ring 4.- by

tween the recess formed in the cover and the nozzle 26 to make a water-tight joint.

19represents a strap or bridge carrying a switch or fuse plug 20, provided with notches or slots 21in the longitudinal sides thereof. This strap 19 is provided with an offset portion 22 to. which the switch or fuse plug 20 may be secured by means ofIscrews or the like passing through apertures 23. The strap is secured to the lugs 24 formed screws .(not

' shown) which engage "with screw-threaded flange and a gasket carried apertures 25 in the lugs 24. The slots 21" formed in the longitudinal sides of the strap orbridge 19 furnish ready meanswhereby the strap or bridge with its attached switch I or fuse plug 20 may be easily and quickly secured to or removed from the.clamp1ng ring 4. lhe slot 21, together with the olfset tions, as for instance, when a large switch or fuse plug is used in connection with a flat cover, I prefer to arrange the strap in the box as indicatedin the dotted lines in A Fig. 1 of the drawings, and where a box with 1. A floor box having two adjustable box body sections, an adjustable-clamping ring carried by one of said sections and resilient means carried by said clamping ring, said resilient means interposed between the rin and said sections for connecting said box 9 sections together in their adjusted positions.

2. A floor box having two adjustable box body sections, one section provided with securing means, an adjustable clamping ring carried by "said securing means, and a gasket carried by said ring, said gasket being interposed between the ring and said sections for connecting said box sections together in their adjusted positions.

3. A floor box having two adjustable box body sections, one section being provided with an outwardly projecting flange at its topv edge, and with an inwardly projecting flange at its bottom edge, a clamping ring suspended from. said inwardly projecting by said ring and adapted to engage with said sections for firmly securing the sections together in position when properly adjusted.

4:. A floor box having two. adjustable box body sections, one section being provided with an outwardly projecting flange at its top edge and with an inwardly projecting flange at itsbottom edge, a clamping ring carried by said inwardly projecting flange,

a strap carrying a switch or fuse plug secured to said clamping ring, a gasket carried by saidring and adapted toengage with gasket in position when properly a clamping rmgtcarried by portion 22 also enables me to secure the strap "to the clamping ring 4 in two different posione of said sections, and a gasket provided firmly securing the sections and gasket in with a flat under side and with an outer positlon when properlyadjusted. 10

cylindrical and an inner concave surface, This specification signed and witnessed said flat surface adapted to engage with the this eighth day of April, 1913. v 5 clamping ring, and the outercylindrical and WILLIAM A. BONNELL.

inner concaved surfaces adapted to engage Witnesses: with said box body sections, thereby connect ELFREDA B. PHILIPP,

ing said box sections together and means for DAVID P. SUBER. 

